H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

HP Govt to verify staff antecedents
Hamirpur, November 24
The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to verify the antecedents of all government and semi-government employees recruited during the BJP regime. This follows reports from various quarters that many persons facing criminal cases had been employed by the government.

Advocate-General told to produce Chief Secy in court
Shimla, November 24
The Himachal Pradesh High Court today directed the advocate-general to produce the state Chief Secretary, Mr Arvind Kaul tomorrow in the court. Issuing these directions a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice V.K. Gupta and Mr Justice K.C. Sood further ruled Mr Kaul as contemner for not complying with the order passed by the court on November 18, wherein the court had directed the Chief Secretary to appear in person or send an officer on his behalf in the court on the issue of appointment of chairman and members in the state Administrative Tribunal.

Ministers ridicule Dhumal’s statement
Shimla, November 24
Mr B.B. Butail, Revenue Minister, and Mr Singhi Ram, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister, have ridiculed the statement of former Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal, demanding an inquiry into the irregularities committed in appointments made in Himachal Pradesh University during the last term of the Congress government.

DC clarifies on recruitment rally
Hamirpur, November 24
The Assam Rifles authorities, which had issued an advertisement in the Employment News and Rojgar Samachar, for the recruitment of jawans from Himachal Pradesh did not sent anybody in this regard here today at the Anoo college ground. 

Support price for citrus fruit announced
Shimla, November 24
the Himachal government has announced support price for various varieties of citrus fruit to be procured under the market intervention scheme during the current harvesting season.

Nathpa-Jhakri unit synchronised
Shimla, November 24
The second 250 mw unit of the 1,500 mw Nathpa-Jhakri hydroelectricity power project over the Satluj in Himachal Pradesh was successfully synchronised with the northern grid yesterday.

Activists of the National Students Union of India outside the ECG meeting room in Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, on Monday. — Photo by Anil Dayal

Students launch relay fast
Solan, November 24
Students of the local Himalayan Institute of Paramedical and Education today started a 24-hour relay fast in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office here.

Students stay away from classes
Kangra, November 24
Hundreds of students of degree classes of MCM DAV College here today stayed away from their classes in protest against the decision of the college management to hold the house tests from December 4 before the winter vacations.

Rohtang pass reopened
Kulu, November 24
The Rohtang pass was reopened to vehicular traffic last evening. Gateway to the tribal district Lahaul and Spiti, the pass was blocked following heavy snowfall on November 16, when tourists were stranded on both sides of the pass.

HP Govt to verify staff antecedents
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, November 24
The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to verify the antecedents of all government and semi-government employees recruited during the BJP regime.

This follows reports from various quarters that many persons facing criminal cases had been employed by the government.

Highly placed sources in the government said today that Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had taken various heads of departments to task for not verifying the antecedents of those given jobs during the BJP regime. The HP State Subordinate Selection Board, which is under cloud, had arranged employment for 7,000 young persons of the state from 1998 to 2003.

Under rules, the antecedents of each and every employee who joined government, corporation or board services of the state are to be verified within six months of their joining duty. However, in most cases this is not done.

The Chief Secretary, according to the sources, had directed the Director General of Police to verify the antecedents of those who had secured jobs during the BJP regime, either through Subordinate Services Selection Board or on the seniority-cum-merit basis.

The CID wing of the Himachal Pradesh Police is on the task. A report is likely to be put up before the Chief Minister, once he returns from campaigning outside the state.

At least 30 police officers camping in various parts of the district are enquiring about the details and background of those employed during the BJP regime.

Advocate-General told to produce
Chief Secy in court
Our Correspondent

Shimla, November 24
The Himachal Pradesh High Court today directed the advocate-general to produce the state Chief Secretary, Mr Arvind Kaul tomorrow in the court. Issuing these directions a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice V.K. Gupta and Mr Justice K.C. Sood further ruled Mr Kaul as contemner for not complying with the order passed by the court on November 18, wherein the court had directed the Chief Secretary to appear in person or send an officer on his behalf in the court on the issue of appointment of chairman and members in the state Administrative Tribunal (SAT). Today instead of appearing himself before the court, the Chief Secretary sent a section officer on his behalf. Taking serious note of this act on the part of the Chief Secretary, the court directed the advocate-general to produce him before the court on Tuesday.

A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed on the issue of appointment of chairman and member of the SAT. Both the Centre and state governments had undertaken to make the appointments within a month which expired on November 17. After finding no action on the part of both governments petitioner Trisha Sharma filed this present contempt petition before the court.

Ministers ridicule Dhumal’s statement
Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 24
Mr B.B. Butail, Revenue Minister, and Mr Singhi Ram, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister, have ridiculed the statement of former Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal, demanding an inquiry into the irregularities committed in appointments made in Himachal Pradesh University during the last term of the Congress government.

In a joint statement here today they said it was surprising that the BJP leaders were making this demand now whereas they did nothing while they were in power. If something was wrong they should have ordered an enquiry then, they added.

DC clarifies on recruitment rally
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, November 24
The Assam Rifles authorities, which had issued an advertisement in the Employment News and Rojgar Samachar, for the recruitment of jawans from Himachal Pradesh did not sent anybody in this regard here today at the Anoo college ground. The news in this regard was published in The Tribune today.

However, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Devesh Kumar, came out with a statement, claiming that there was no recruitment rally to be held here. He added that the proposed recruitment had already been conducted in September.

He further said the recruitment by the Army authorities of DDG, Recruitment, and Ambala Zone would be held at Sujanpur Tira from November 28 to December 3 only for the districts of Hamirpur, Una and Bilaspur. Moreover, no clarification about the postponement of the rally was issued by the authorities concerned. 

Vidhan Sabha session from Dec 15

Shimla, November 24
The week-long winter session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha would commence from December 15.

An official release here today said that Governor, V.S. Kokje had summoned the session of the Assembly.

There would be seven sittings of the House for important legislative business. — UNI

Support price for citrus fruit announced
Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 24
the Himachal government has announced support price for various varieties of citrus fruit to be procured under the market intervention scheme during the current harvesting season.

The “B” grade kinnow and malta will be procured at the rate of Rs 4.60 per kg and “C” grade Orange will be purchased at Rs 4 per kg. Support price for ‘Galgal’ has been fixed at Rs 2.85 per kg.

The fruit will be procured by HPMC, HIMFED and Agro Packaging India on the behalf of the government. The maximum limit for procurement has been fixed at 300 tonne for kinnow, malta and orange and 100 tonne Galgal.

The scheme will come into effect from December 1, 2003 and remain in operation up to February 15, 2004. As many as 51 procurement centres will be set up in the citrus belt for the purpose.

Nathpa-Jhakri unit synchronised

Shimla, November 24
The second 250 mw unit of the 1,500 mw Nathpa-Jhakri hydroelectricity power project over the Satluj in Himachal Pradesh was successfully synchronised with the northern grid yesterday.

Stating this here today,Chief Managing Director Y.N. Apparao of Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd, the executing agency, said a maximum load of 122 mw was transmitted to the grid from the unit yesterday. The unit would soon attain full generation soon, he added. — UNI

Students launch relay fast
Our Correspondent

Solan, November 24
Students of the local Himalayan Institute of Paramedical and Education today started a 24-hour relay fast in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office here.

These students, studying art and craft, are protesting against the failure of the institute to procure a no- objection certificate (NOC) from the state government and demanding action against the institute.

Earlier, they took out a rally through the town. Supported by the Students Federation of India, the students threatened to launch an agitation if no heed was paid to their demand.

Students stay away from classes
Our Correspondent

Kangra, November 24
Hundreds of students of degree classes of MCM DAV College here today stayed away from their classes in protest against the decision of the college management to hold the house tests from December 4 before the winter vacations.

The students held a protest rally, demanding that the house tests for the degree classes be held after the winter vacations, scheduled to start on December 25.

Mr S.K. Sharma, Principal of the college, said that the annual practical examination conducted by Himachal Pradesh University for these classes would start from February 5 next year and the theory examination would be held from March 15 next year. To hold the house tests after the winter vacations was not possible for the college management, he said.

Rohtang pass reopened
Our Correspondent

Kulu, November 24
The Rohtang pass was reopened to vehicular traffic last evening. Gateway to the tribal district Lahaul and Spiti, the pass was blocked following heavy snowfall on November 16, when tourists were stranded on both sides of the pass.

Mr A.K. Dixit, Commanding Officer, 38 BRTF, said the pass had been opened with snow cutters, though it was officially closed on October 31.

Extension up to November 15 had been given for vehicular traffic on a request of the state government so that employees and labourers working on the other side could return, besides transporting the farm produce from Lahaul.